diff --git a/ultraplot/internals/rcsetup.py b/ultraplot/internals/rcsetup.py
index c854cfcc2..7439f35cf 100644
--- a/ultraplot/internals/rcsetup.py
+++ b/ultraplot/internals/rcsetup.py
@@ -295,13 +295,14 @@ def _validate_cftime_resolution(unit: str) -> str:
     raise ValueError(msg)
 
 
-def _validate_cmap(subtype):
+def _validate_cmap(subtype, cycle=False):
     """
     Validate the colormap or cycle. Possibly skip name registration check
     and assign the colormap name rather than a colormap instance.
     """
 
     def _validate_cmap(value):
+
         name = value
         if isinstance(value, str):
             if VALIDATE_REGISTERED_CMAPS:
@@ -314,8 +315,15 @@ def _validate_cmap(value):
             if isinstance(name, str):
                 from ..colors import _cmap_database  # avoid circular imports
 
-                _cmap_database[name] = value
+                _cmap_database.register(value, name=name)
                 return name
+        elif cycle:
+            from ..constructor import Cycle
+
+            if isinstance(value, Cycler):
+                return Cycle(value)
+            elif np.iterable(value):
+                return Cycle(value)
         raise ValueError(f"Invalid colormap or color cycle name {name!r}.")
 
     return _validate_cmap
@@ -1195,7 +1203,7 @@ def copy(self):
     # Color cycle additions
     "cycle": (
         CYCLE,
-        _validate_cmap("discrete"),
+        _validate_cmap("discrete", cycle=True),
         "Name of the color cycle assigned to :rcraw:`axes.prop_cycle`.",
     ),
     # Colormap additions
diff --git a/ultraplot/tests/test_config.py b/ultraplot/tests/test_config.py
index c700bb0c8..11a308b56 100644
--- a/ultraplot/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/ultraplot/tests/test_config.py
@@ -94,3 +94,29 @@ def test_dev_version_skipped(mock_urlopen, mock_version, mock_print):
 
     check_for_update("fakepkg")
     mock_print.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "cycle, raises_error",
+    [
+        ("qual1", False),
+        (["#5790fc", "#f89c20", "#e42536", "#964a8b", "#9c9ca1", "#7a21dd"], False),
+        (
+            uplt.constructor.Cycle(
+                ["#5790fc", "#f89c20", "#e42536", "#964a8b", "#9c9ca1", "#7a21dd"]
+            ),
+            False,
+        ),
+        (uplt.colormaps.get_cmap("viridis"), False),
+        (1234, True),
+    ],
+)
+def test_cycle_rc_setting(cycle, raises_error):
+    """
+    Test various ways to set the cycle in rc
+    """
+    if raises_error:
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            uplt.rc["cycle"] = cycle
+    else:
+        uplt.rc["cycle"] = cycle